château les carmes haut brion 2021

at the end of 2010, patrice pichet acquired the domaine des carmes, a marvellous estate that is a work of art. after a major investment, he opened a new winery in 2016. an impressive, minimalist building, designed by philippe starck and luc arsène-henry, it is equipped with the most modern equipment, but retains all the tradition and essence of château, aiming to rethink wine and vineyard culture in a broader sense and to give the terroir the attention it deserves. the new winery is perfectly integrated with its surroundings, surrounded by ponds that form part of a beautiful urban garden that shelters the vineyards, where this majestic expression of nature contributes to the ripening of the grapes that give rise to extraordinary wines. this is the birthplace of château les carmes haut-brion, the domaine's gran vin, powerful and silky, reflecting all the classic elegance of pessac-léognan (bordeaux). it is made from a blend of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and merlot, grown on predominantly gravelly soils over clay-limestone bedrock and harvested by hand. château les carmes haut-brion is the pride of the estate. a round, complex and delicious red wine; an example of the harmonious balance between strength and finesse, fruit and depth. the new cellar of domaine les carmes haut-brion, as well as being a work of art in itself, is also home to an exquisite communion between poetry and human talent. it is also a place of inspiration for artists who have left their mark within the walls of this space, creating a creative embrace with the mysterious beauty that accompanies the creation of magnificent wines. a brilliant and intensely individual wine, the 2021 les carmes haut-brion shows immense potential. wafting from the glass with aromas of rich berries and plums mingled with notions of raw cocoa, loamy soil, rose petals, burnt sage and vine smoke, it's medium to full-bodied, vibrant and seamless, with a deep, dynamic core of fruit and a long, penetrating finish. transcending the limitations of the vintage, it wouldn't surprise me were this wine ultimately to surpass the 2019 and 2020 in quality. it's a blend of 40% cabernet franc, 35% cabernet sauvignon and 25% merlot that's maturing in 70% new oak and the rest in 15-hectoliter foudres. tasted twice. rating: decanter 96/ yves beck 98-100/william kelley 94-97 / yohan castaing (96-98) / alexandre ma 96-97 michel bettan 95-96/ colin hay 96-98 / jeb dunnuck 93-95 / antonio galloni 96-98/ jane anson 94/ j leve 94-96 /j m quarin 97/ j. perrin 98 / j robinson 17 / j suckling 96-97/ le figaro 96-99 / n martin 93-95/ perroti 93-95/ rvf 93-95